"Sale of the Century" did it best, I think, because to even get a shot at the bigger prizes, you had to win enough games to get there. (I liked this about the 1978 version of "Jeopardy!" as well.) On "Hot Potato" or "Blockbusters 87" and so on, you could at least keep coming back to win the money, and you had the doubled tension of 1) are the champions going to win again and 2) are they finally going to knock off the bonus.
I'm less irked by the building cash jackpot that "Sale" had while shopping, after all, you're still taking home at least $56,000, and probably more. With Super Password, it could vary from $5,000 on up. Would that stop me from trying out for "Lingo," given the chance? Hells no. Will I watch the new season when I get a chance. Absolutely. The bonus round is merely an add-on, the pulling of the balls is a glue for the game so it's not just solving five-letter words for a point each.